Compliance to nutrition counselling among HIV positive school children attending MDH CTC in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

Promotion of nutritional counseiing is an important intervention to vulnerable populations that include HIV positive school going children who have significantly higher nutritional needs. The main objective of this study was to determine extent and factors associated with compliance to nutrition counseling among HIV positive school going children attending MOH care and treatment clinics in Oar es Salaam. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam region from June to July 2010 to assess compliance to nutrition counseling given to HIV positive primary school children attending MDH CTC. Complying to nutritional counseling was defined an HIV positive school going child aged 6-10 years who takes 1810 kilocalories per day or a child 10- 15 years who takes 2500 kilocalories per day. A random sample of 418 HIV positive school going children were selected for the study. Data was generated using structured interviews and standard anthropometric measurements. Overall, the dietary energy intake of a child ranged from (970 to 3050) kilocalories, with mean of 2100 kilocalories and standard deviation of 610 kilocalories. Compliance with nutrition counseling was found to be 50.8%. Compliance to nutrition counseling was low (50.8%), children less likely to comply were young children p-value < 0.01, males p-value < 0.01, severe disease p-value < 0.01, those on ant-retroviral treatment p-value = 0.04 and with more than three siblings p-value < 0.01. Parents/caretakers factors contributed to child nutrition counseling compliance were education p-value < 0.01, occupation p-value = 0.02 and income p-value < 0.05. The study therefore underlines the need for development of more nutrition interventions in MOH program focusing on HIV positive school children. The interventions should focus on HIV positive school children of young age, male children, those on ant retroviral treatment as well as those with more than three siblings, as the number of HIV positive school going children is growing every month.